Afternoon Sweets: A Sheep in Sheep’s Clothing

January 25, 2015

If you’re like me, you start craving a little sweet around 3 o’clock. Also, if you’re like me, you don’t want your afternoon treat to negate your attempt to eat healthy. Am I right? I mean, why bother choosing a side salad over chips if you’re just going to turn around and scarf down a Cinnabon? Now don’t get me wrong- I’m all for having chips and splitting a Cinnabon- but overall I think we try to make fairly wise (or wiser) choices on a day-to-day basis. In fact, I’m not embarrassed to say that chips are actually one of my favorite snacks. Always have been too. But back to my point. When trying to have a smarter choice to reach for when mid-afternoon rolls around it feels awfully nice to have a few delicious options you know you can count on.

While I understand the idea behind the suggestion to just have a piece of fruit to quell that sweetly desire (“the sweetness of the fruit totally makes me forget the fact that I really just want bon bons and chocolate, I swear!”), I want to feel like I’m really getting a treat. For the past few months my top choices have been either Barnana’s Organic Chocolate Chewy Banana Bites or Somersault’s Cinnamon Crunch nuggets. I buy both of them at Whole Foods- and I grab some additional bags of Somersaults at Target but shhhh.

A smaller snack-size pack of Somersaults.

The Barnana Bites are bits of dehydrated banana covered in lush, delicious chocolate. One serving has 12% of your daily potassium and fiber, alongside a few other good-for-you vitamins and minerals. Incredibly satisfying and addictive- the serving size doesn’t leave you feeling gypped. If you want to read more about them click here. I’ve also seen plain banana, coconut banana, and peanut butter banana, although I love the chocolate ones so much I have yet to stray! Bonus: these are gluten free.

Yummy and filling? Check!

The perfect coating of chocolate encapsulating these chewy, moist bites.

My other pick as of late has been cinnamon Somersaults. These crunchy whole wheat nuggets are packed with sunflower and sesame seeds and oh so delicious. With twice as much protein as almonds- but less fat and calories- I can’t help but say yes please! As a vegetarian I often find myself noshing on nuts so it’s nice to get some sweet, sweet protein from seeds too. If you’re curious about these guys click here. I’ve also tried their Dutch Cocoa flavor, although I wasn’t crazy about it. Bonus: vegan and completely nut free.

See? They’re so happy to be tasty and healthy.

Little nuggets of gold.

Confession- I’m writing this post the night before I’ll publish it (I’m all out of Somersaults and Barnanas at the moment and I want to have pictures to go with my post) and thinking about these treats has got me salivating! I’m going to drop by Whole Foods tomorrow, take a photo quick as can be, rip open the bag like I haven’t eaten in days, and pop them into my mouth and go om nom nom like the cookie monster. But alas… tonight I’ll just settle for a glass of Ovaltine before bed.